Signaling device for tradesmen.



0. J. ORSER.

SIGNALING DEVICE FOR TRADESMEN.

APPLICATION HLED NOV.8| I913.

Patented Apr. 13, 1915.

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0. L ORSER.

SIGNALING DEVICE FOR TRADE-SMEN.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 3| I913.

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w m a Witweoom ltd l l T A OTTO J. ORSER, OF GORDON, ONTARIO ,CANADA.

SIGNALING DEVICE FOR TRADESMEN.

Application filed November 8, 1913.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that T, O'rTo J. Onsnn, a citizenof the United States, residing at Gordon, in the Province of Ontario andDominion of Canada, have invented new and useful Improvements inSignaling Devices for Tradesmen, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in signaling devices and hasparticular application to a tradesmans signal.

In carrying out the present invention, it is my purpose to provide adevice of the class described which may be secured to the eX- terior ofa residence and whereby passing tradesmen may be notified that theoccupants of the dwelling wish to purchase their wares.

It is also my purpose to provide a device of the class described whichwill embody among other features a casing having an open front walladapted to be closed by means of a door and signal plates within thecasing and removable therefrom and having indicia thereon indicative ofthe tradesmen wanted and adapted to be removed from the casing, when theoccupant of the dwelling desires to attract a tradesmans attention, andhung upon the exterior of the casing.

Furthermore, I aim to provide a signaling device for tradesmen whichwill embrace the desired features of simplicity, efficiency anddurability and which may be manufactured, marketed and installed at aminimum expense.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forthin and falling within the scope of the claim.

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of asignaling device constructed in accordance with my present invention,the same being shown as fixed to the exterior of a dwelling and having asignal displayed. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the device removed fromthe dwelling, the cover being in open position. Fig. 3 is a fragmentarylongitudinal sectional view through the casing. Fig. 4: is a transversesectional view therethrough. Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view throughone of the signal plates showing the same on an enlarged acale. Fig. 6is a view of the sign plate in display position.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. f3, 1915.

Serial No. 800,005.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the numeral 1designates a casing composed of any suitable material and preferably ofrectangular contour in horizontal section. This casing is designed to befastened to the exterior of a dwelling house or the like in somesuitable manner, as, for instance, by screws passing through the rearwall of the casing and entering the material of the support. The frontwall of the casin g is open and is adapted to be closed by means of adoor 2 adapted for swinging movement to open and closed positions andhaving the lower edge thereof hingedly connected to the forward edge ofthe bottom wall of the casing as at 3.

Appropriately fastened to the inner sur faces of the opposite end wallsof the casing l are supporting blocks 4: having the confronting facesthereof formed with horizontal slots 5 spaced apart vertically, theslots in one block alining with those in the other block. Slidablymounted within each pair of alining slots 5 is a signal plate 6 composedof metal or any other suitable material and having the forward edgethereof provided with a flange 7. These signal plates, when within thecasing, are disposed in horizontal planes and spaced apart inparallelism, while the flanges 7 on the forward edges thereof dependfrom the respective plates and are disposed in a vertical plane. When indisplay positionthe longitudinal edge of the flange 7 contacts with thedoor 2 thereby throwing the center of gravity of the signal plates outof a vertical line with the result that the plates are prevented fromrattling.

Secured to the top longitudinal edge of the door 2 are hooks 8, 8appropriately spaced apart, while formed in each signal plate adjacentto the rear edge thereof are apertures 9, 9 spaced apart a distanceequal to the distance between the hooks 8, 8 and adapted to receive suchhooks when the sig nal plate is withdrawn from the casing for displaypurposes. The exposed surface of each signal plate is provided withsuitable indicia 10 indicative of the particular tradesman to besignaled by such plate, while the depending flanges of the plates areprovided with indicia 11 corresponding with the indicating matter 10 sothat when the plates are within the casing, the party employing thedevice, will know, at a glance, which plate to select. A suitable springcatch 12 is employed to maintain the cover or door 2 in closed position.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, the construction, mode of operation and manner of employing myinvention will be readily apparent. Assuming the casing to be fast tothe exterior of a building and the occupant of such building desires tosignal a passing tradesman, such occupant re- [eases the spring catch 12and swings the door 2 to open position. After the door has been openedthe signal plate indicative of the tradesmen wanted is selected andwithdrawn from the casing. The door is now swung to closed position andlatched and the signal plate suspended by the hooks 8, 8 and theapertures or eyes 9, 9 formed in the signal plate adjacent to the rearedge thereof. The passing tradesman, upon seeing the signal displayedwill act accordingly.

In order that the signal plates may be conveniently removed from thecasing the depending flange on each plate is equipped with a handle 13whereby the plates may be readily withdrawn from the slots holding thesame,

I claim:

In combination with a casing having interior and exterior supportingmeans, of signal plates adapted to be supported by said means, each ofsaid plates being provided with a body portion having indicia thereonand a right angularly disposed flange having indicia thereon agreeingwith the indicia on the body portion, said flange adapted to throw thecenter of gravity of the plate to one side of a vertical line when indisplay position.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

OTTO J. ORSER.

Witnesses CLEMENT REAUME, GASPARD PACAUD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. G.

